After previously reviewing and liking the Levenhuk Rainbow 50L Biological Microscope, it was a no-brainer to agree to review Invisible World by Oksana Mazur (2006, but updated through 2016), which is part of the So far, so near series by Levenhuk Press. The title page gives the full title, “Marvelous and amazing journeys with a microscope into the INVISIBLE WORLD discovered 350 years ago by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch textile merchant, naturalist and scientist.” The book is for children of primary and secondary school ages 6+.

The 95-page book comes as a nice square hardcover with 10 inch sides. It features a full color, densely packed layout, with oversized text throughout. Each page is packed with information, images, and interesting asides. The book’s basic structure covers the history of the microscope, different types of microscopes, working with microscopes, and various categories and descriptions of observable objects like drops of water, seeds, starches, insects, and hair. Suggestions for hands-on experiments help to round out the primary content.

In the back of the book is advertorial content describing Levenhuk and Bresser microscopes, telescopes, slide sets, binoculars, and more. While this would normally be considered bad form in an educational text, it’s admittedly interesting to see some real world options available for purchase. As my two oldest daughters, ages 10 and 12, will attest, this is a fascinating book. And even if you’re a bit out of the suggest age range, there’s still a lot to like here.

Pluses:

• Hardcover
• Content-packed, full color layout
• Comprehensive

 

Minuses:

• Advertorial content in the back of the book